Manhunt for 14-year-old suspect in stabbing death of Barnard freshman
Fourteen-year-old suspected killer of Barnard College student Tessa Majors is on the run after jumping out of a car in Harlem on his way to meet investigators – sparking massive police manhunt
- Stabbing suspect, 14, was being driven to speak with police on Monday
- He jumped out of the car as it passed through Harlem and is currently on the run
- Boy not thought to be under arrest, despite claims he delivered the fatal blow
- 13-year-old is in custody and has admitted taking part in the murder but denied wielding the knife, while a second 14-year-old has been questioned and released
A manhunt is underway for a 14-year-old who is thought to have stabbed NYU student Tessa Majors to death.
The teen was being taken by car to speak with police on Monday when he jumped out of the vehicle as it passed through Harlem and fled, the New York Post reported.
An adult – believed to be a lawyer or relative – who was accompanying the boy reported him missing around 4pm, sparking a police manhunt around 125th Street, sources told the New York Daily News.
The boy was not thought to be under arrest at the time he fled, despite police suspicions that he was the one who delivered the blow that killed Majors as she walked near campus.
Two other suspects have already been arrested over Majors’ death – a 13-year-old who is in custody and has allegedly confessed to taking part in the murder but denied wielding the knife, and a second 14-year-old was was arrested then released.
A manhunt is reportedly underway for a 14-year-old suspect in the stabbing death of Barnard College freshman Tessa Majors (pictured)
Officers are pictured near the scene where Majors was stabbed on Monday night
Police say Majors was walking in Morningside Park, which is located down a staircase from street level, just before 7pm on December 11 when she was confronted by a group of young men and stabbed during a struggle.
She staggered up the stairway to a nearby street where she was spotted by a campus security guard who called 911. Majors died from her injuries in hospital.
A folding knife with a four-inch blade, which is being tested for DNA and fingerprints, was found near the scene of the attack.
When questioned by investigators, the 13-year-old suspect reportedly claimed that his two friends had grabbed Majors, put her in a chokehold and robbed her, Detective Vincent Signoretti testified at a hearing Friday.
The detective said that suspect insisted he did not stab Majors. He allegedly watched his friend slash her with a knife and saw feathers flying out from her coat’s stuffing.
The three attackers are all believed to attend a middle school near the park, police have said.
Majors’ grieving family on Monday hit back at claims that the teen was in the park to buy marijuana when she was attacked.
The family released a statement slamming NYPD union president Ed Mullins over his claims about the alleged drug link the day before.
‘The remarks by Sergeants Benevolent Association president Ed Mullins we find deeply inappropriate, as they intentionally or unintentionally direct blame onto Tess, a young woman, for her own murder,’ the statement said.
‘We would ask Mr Mullins not to engage in such irresponsible public speculation, just as the NYPD asked our family not to comment as it conducts the investigation.
Tributes were left at Barnard College in Majors’ memory following her murder on December 11
Majors’ grieving family (pictured with the teen) on Monday hit back at claims that the teen was in the park to buy marijuana when she was attacked
‘Our family is interested in knowing what exactly happened to Tess and who committed her murder. We believe, for the immediate safety of the community and the surrounding schools, that should be everyone’s top priority and we are grateful to the men and women of the NYPD for all of their efforts.’
The family released a statement slamming NYPD union president Ed Mullins (pictured) over his claims about the alleged drug link
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also criticized Mullins for victim shaming.
‘Think of Tessa’s parents, her friends. This is heartless. It’s infuriating. We don’t shame victims in this city,’ de Blasio tweeted.
Mullins made the controversial comments about Majors on businessman John Catsimatidis’ radio program on Sunday.
‘An 18-year-old college student at one of the most prestigious universities is murdered in a park, and what I’m understanding, she was in the park to buy marijuana,’ he said.
‘And you think about that, we don’t enforce marijuana laws anymore. We’re basically hands-off on the enforcement of marijuana.
‘So here we have a student murdered by a 13-year-old and we have a common denominator of marijuana. You know, my question to the people of New York City is, ‘Why is this happening?’.’
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio criticized Mullins for victim shaming on Twitter
Scott Hechinger, a public defender in Brooklyn, accused Mullins of ‘weaponizing’ Major’s murder to address reductions in marijuana enforcement
A number of defense attorneys and criminal justice reform advocates have also slammed Mullins on social media.
Scott Hechinger, a public defender in Brooklyn, accused Mullins of ‘weaponizing’ Majors’ murder to address reductions in marijuana enforcement.
‘Yes. The NYPD is weaponizing Tessa Major’s murder to attack reductions in marijuana enforcement & the prospect of legalization. Never fails. They use every tragedy to push their cynical agenda of more criminalization & greater harshness,’ Hechinger tweeted.
In a separate tweet, Hechinger said Mullins’ ‘fear-mongering argument also makes no sense.’
‘Assuming it’s even true that she was trying to buy marijuana in a park when killed, legalization would have prevented the need to go to a park. She would have been able to buy from a licensed dispensary. With surveillance footage,’ he said.
Police sources told the New York Post that detectives are investigating the marijuana angle, which came from one of the victim’s college friends.
Neighbors of the 13-year-old boy charged in the attack have said he was known to smoke marijuana.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Morningside Park for an emotional vigil on Sunday night
Mourners held up their cellphones as part of a vigil for the slain teenager on Sunday night
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Morningside Park for an emotional vigil on Sunday night.
The vigil was organized by New York City officials and local leaders attended the event to not only pay tribute to Majors but to also try and determine solutions.
Assemblywoman Inez Dickens called on the city’s authorities to enforce a more proactive presence in the 30-acre park.
‘Not just additional lighting, not just additional cameras… We need officers foot patrol walking in the park 24 hours a day,’ Inez said.
Some officials not only blame the city for failing Majors, but for also failing local youth who don’t have the resources to stay off the streets.
City Councilman Mark Levine said: ‘We must do more to ensure that every child in this neighborhood grows up with a loving community and the support that they need to be healthy adults.’
While some rallied behind local leaders calls for action, others said politics should not have been included at a a service honoring Majors’ life.
‘No political values!’ and ‘This is a vigil!’ some people yelled.
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